This week's games

Sunday

Nov 28, 2010 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2010 at 1:36 PM

TODAY Vikings at Redskins

• Minnesota hopes to get a spark from the firing of unpopular coach Brad Childress, who has been replaced by defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Indications are that QB Brett Favre will be given more input in play-calling, and he will face the NFL's worst defense (411.1 yards per game allowed). Washington is down to third-string RB Keiland Williams. The 'Skins are battered with injuries, and maybe Minnesota will follow the lead of Dallas, another underachieving team that won two in a row after firing its coach.

Steelers at Bills

• Buffalo has won two in a row, and its offense is rolling. The Ryan Fitzpatrick-to-Steve Johnson combo has produced nine TDs despite Fitzpatrick not starting until week three. The pass-happy Bills catch a break - Pittsburgh's defense is No.1 against the run but just 22nd vs. the pass and gave up 39 points the last time it faced a team that has a good QB (New England). The Bills are on the rise but can't stop the run, allowing an NFL-high 163.5 yards per game, and the Steelers' ground attack, led by Rashard Mendenhall, is solid.

Titans at Texans

• Tennessee QB Vince Young is done for the year (thumb injury) but would have been banished anyway because of insubordination. With backup Kerry Collins (calf) also out, the Titans turn to Rusty Smith, a rookie from Florida Atlantic. Although he faces the NFL's worst pass defense (301 yards per game allowed), history is against him. Teams whose QB makes his first NFL start are 11-28 in the past five seasons, including 1-5 this year. Houston's seventh-ranked offense should move vs. Tennessee's No.24 defense.

Jaguars at Giants

• New York's receiving corps has been decimated by injury and is minus regulars Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks, leaving Mario Manningham as the only WR with significant experience. But it's not all bad - whoever is targeted by QB Eli Manning will work against the 28th-rated pass defense. Also, RB Brandon Jacobs is back as the starter because of Ahmad Bradshaw's fumbling woes. Jacksonville's offense focuses on handoffs to Maurice Jones-Drew, but the Giants are No.4 vs. the run. There will be no sneaking past New York, which was upset in its last home game by a 1-7 Dallas team.

Packers at Falcons

• A dandy matchup of two of the NFC's best. Both have won four in a row, with Atlanta averaging 31.5 points and Green Bay at 28.3 during their streaks. Green Bay has the better defense, allowing just 14.6 points per game, tied for the fewest in the NFL. Atlanta is 24th vs. the pass, not a good sign with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on a roll. But Green Bay has allowed an average of 119.4 rushing yards in its past five outings, meaning Falcons RB Michael Turner could be in for a big day. Atlanta is 5-0 at home and could have DE John Abraham (groin) back. Green Bay, meanwhile, is 3-2 on the road.

Dolphins at Raiders

• Miami has injury issues - WR Brandon Marshall (hamstring) might not play - but QB Chad Henne hopes to return from a knee injury. Oakland was ripped last week in Pittsburgh, and its second-ranked rushing offense was held to 61 yards. But Miami is only 20th vs. the run, so RB Darren McFadden should be a big factor. Oakland is 4-1 at home and has averaged 30.3 points in its past three games there.

Chiefs at Seahawks

• Seattle is 3-1 at home but 20th or worse in the major team statistics, other than run defense (No.14). Kansas City relies on the running game, as RBs Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones head the NFL's No.1 unit. Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck has thrown for at least 333 yards in his past two outings and faces the No.25 pass defense. The Chiefs are a road favorite for only the second time this season, and in the other instance they were blasted 49-29 by Denver. Kansas City has lost four in a row on the road, where it allows 28 points per game.

Rams at Broncos

• Denver is a disaster on defense, ranking 26th or worse in the major statistical categories other than vs. the pass, where it's 20th. But the Rams don't have a deep threat, one reason QB Sam Bradford's passer rating (79.0) is 27th in the league. Denver's offense is potent, with QB Kyle Orton and the passing game ranked No.4. The Rams are 0-4 on the road, blowing a second-half lead three times.

Buccaneers at Ravens

• The Buccaneers are a big surprise, but get a stern test vs. a defense that allows just 17.8 points per game, No.6 in the NFL. Tampa Bay has been efficient, winning despite having just the 23rd-ranked offense and the No.16 defense. Baltimore counters with a seven-game home winning streak. Look for Ravens RB Ray Rice to get a heavy workload vs. the No.29 run defense.

Eagles at Bears

• The Philadelphia offense, led by QB Michael Vick, has averaged 37.3 points in its three games since he has returned as the starter, but he gets a major challenge here as the Bears allow just 14.6 points per game, tied for the fewest in the NFL, and are No.3 in yards allowed. But the Bears have had a fairly weak schedule - their past four foes entered week 12 with a combined record of 11-29. Chicago QB Jay Cutler faces a defense that averages 3.2 sacks on the road, a bad sign for the sack-prone Cutler.

Chargers at Colts

• San Diego has reeled off three straight wins with QB Philip Rivers rolling, but it faces the No.8 pass defense that held New England QB Tom Brady to 186 yards (although he won). Indianapolis has key injuries, with WR Austin Collie out (concussion) and RB Joseph Addai questionable because of a lingering shoulder injury. QB Peyton Manning has faced the Chargers five times in the past five seasons (including the playoffs), and his 77.5 passer rating for those games is well under his career mark of 94.2. Manning is 1-4 in those outings.

MONDAY 49ers at Cardinals

• The long NFL Thanksgiving weekend ends with a big slice of leftover turkey, as the worst teams in the worst division tangle. Former Ohio State QB Troy Smith gets his third start for the Niners despite compiling a lowly 51.5 passer rating last week as his team was blanked by the Buccaneers. He should improve considerably here as Arizona allows 29.2 points per game, most in the NFL.

- Dan Caesar St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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